Israel/Gaza: One Year After Hostilities, Abuses Unpunished Press release Dec 26, 2009 One year after the start of major hostilities in Gaza, both Israel and Hamas have failed to punish members of their own forces for laws-of-war violations during the fighting. Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza has also created massive humanitarian need and prevented the reconstruction of schools, homes, and basic infrastructure.

Slow Movement Backgrounder Briefing Dec 16, 2009 Migrants drowning at sea after being turned away from shore. Children detained with adults and at risk of physical and sexual abuse. Workers cheated out of wages and confined to their workplace. Authorities extorting bribes. Governments denying health care benefits to those who might most need it.

Moving Beyond the Goldstone Report Commentary Nov 9, 2009 Two months ago in this column I raised the issue of accountability for war crimes committed in the Gaza conflict. I wrote that the findings and recommendations of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, and its reception by Israel, Hamas, the United States, and others, would be the key to achieving justice.

On Israel, Congress Tolerates Abuse Commentary Nov 4, 2009 Yesterday the US Congress gravely insulted hundreds of civilians who were wounded or killed in the most recent war in the Middle East.

UN: Endorse Goldstone Report Press release Nov 3, 2009 The United Nations (UN) General Assembly should endorse the report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict when it meets to discuss Middle East peace issues on November 4, 2009, more than a dozen groups working on human rights issues in the Middle East said today.

General Assembly: Support Goldstone Recommendations on Gaza Press release Nov 2, 2009 A global coalition of civil society organizations from every corner of the world, ranging from Human Rights Now in Japan to the South African Council of Churches, have urged members of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to support the recommendations of the Goldstone Report and work to adopt a resolution which will ensure accountability for victims of the Gaza conflict earlier this year.

US: Congress Should Reject Impunity for Israel and Hamas Press release Nov 2, 2009 Members of the US House of Representatives should oppose a resolution that calls for the Obama administration to reject scrutiny of Israel and Hamas for laws-of-war violations in the recent Gaza conflict.

Human Rights Watch Applies Same Standards to Israel, Hamas Commentary Oct 26, 2009 Critics of Human Rights Watch's work on Israel raise three main points. First, they say we disproportionately focus on Israel, and neglect other countries in the Middle East. Second, they claim our research methodology is flawed. Third, as recently expressed by our founding chairman Robert Bernstein, they argue that we should focus on "closed" countries such as China rather than "open" societies like Israel. I reject all three claims.

Letter to Prime Minister Haniya Letter Oct 20, 2009 We are writing you after the United Nations Human Rights Council's resolution last week endorsing the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. We view the report prepared by Justice Richard Goldstone as a crucial forward step towards securing accountability for the civilian victims of the war on all sides. A key component of the report is its call on all parties to the conflict to conduct credible domestic investigations within six months.

UN Security Council: Demand Justice for Gaza Victims Press release Oct 12, 2009 (New York) - The United Nations Security Council should demand justice for the civilian victims on both sides of the Gaza war, Human Rights Watch said today. Breaking the climate of impunity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a precondition for stability and lasting peace. The Security Council will meet on October 14, 2009, to discuss the Middle East.

Nobel Spotlights Need for Obama to Act on Rights Press release Oct 9, 2009 The award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama should encourage him to apply his stated principles to both foreign and domestic human rights policy.

UN: US Block on Goldstone Report Must Not Defer Justice Press release Oct 2, 2009 The decision at the UN Human Rights Council to defer a vote on the Goldstone Gaza report until March 2010 obliges the United States and other governments blocking action at the council to press Israel and Hamas to commence credible investigations, Human Rights Watch said today. The fact-finding mission found evidence of violations of the laws of war during the Gaza conflict that should trigger credible investigations of the conduct of both sides.

Why No Justice in Gaza? Israel Is Different, and so … Fact Sheet Oct 1, 2009 While Israel is capable of carrying out the impartial investigations called for in the Goldstone report, the record on the recent Gaza conflict and over the past decade indicates a consistent lack of political will to hold its forces accountable for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

UN: US, EU Undermine Justice for Gaza Conflict Press release Sep 30, 2009 The failure of the United States and European Union governments to endorse the report of the Gaza fact-finding mission sends a message that serious laws-of-war violations will be treated with kid gloves when committed by an ally.

US: Endorse Goldstone Report on Gaza Press release Sep 27, 2009 The Obama administration should fully endorse the report of the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict led by Justice Richard Goldstone and demand justice for the victims of serious laws-of-war violations in the conflict.

EU: Demand Justice for Victims of Gaza War Press release Sep 25, 2009 The European Union and its member states should fully endorse the report of the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict led by South African judge Richard Goldstone and demand justice for the victims of serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Letter to European Union Foreign Ministers regarding the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict Letter Sep 25, 2009 The release of the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict puts to the test the stated commitment of the European Union and its 27 member states to promote an international order where no state is above the law. The report presents overwhelming evidence that both Israel and Hamas committed violations of the laws of war - some amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity - and that neither side has taken serious steps to hold perpetrators to account.

Any chance for justice for victims of the Gaza war? Commentary Sep 11, 2009 Over the past few months, international and local human rights groups have documented numerous serious violations of the laws of war, some of them amounting to war crimes, before, during, and since Israel's military offensive in Gaza last December and January.

Israel: Gaza 'White Flag' Deaths Inquiry a Step Forward Press release Sep 10, 2009 The Israeli military police decision to interview Palestinian witnesses to a case where an Israeli soldier allegedly shot three young girls and their grandmother holding white flags during the fighting in Gaza marks a positive development.

'Better than' is not always good enough Commentary Sep 9, 2009 Human Rights Watch has come under fire recently, accused of bias, an excessive focus on one country, lacking credibility and impartiality and even promoting terrorism.

Human Rights Watch plays no favorites in probes Commentary Sep 3, 2009 Having worked in war zones for more than 10 years, I've done a variety of investigations of violations of laws of war for Human Rights Watch. I've inspected the killing fields of Kosovo and the displaced persons camps of Sri Lanka, examined Saddam Hussein's mass graves and researched the effects in Gaza of Operation Cast Lead.

Right of Reply: Don't Smear the Messenger Commentary Aug 25, 2009 A series of detailed human rights reports about serious Israeli abuses during the recent Gaza conflict has given rise to an intense campaign by the Israeli government and some of its uncritical supporters to smear the messengers and change the subject.

Letter to Lieutenant General Ashkenazi Letter Aug 3, 2009 Human Rights Watch welcomes the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) announcement, as reported by news media, that it will issue new procedures to improve the warnings given to civilians before attacks.

Israel's Settlements Are on Shaky Ground Commentary Jun 28, 2009 The debate over Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is often framed in terms of whether they should be "frozen" or allowed to grow "naturally." But that is akin to asking whether a thief should be allowed merely to keep his ill-gotten gains or steal some more.

Israel: Stop Demolishing Palestinian Homes Press release Jun 12, 2009 The Israeli government should immediately stop demolishing Palestinian homes and property in the West Bank and compensate the people it has displaced.

Human Rights: Canada Reigns Large No More Commentary Jun 8, 2009 Canada has long been recognized as a global leader in human rights and commitment to international law, wielding moral authority much larger than its size. But our government's unreserved support for the conduct of Israel's recent military actions in Gaza has eroded Canada's hard-won credibility and moral standing.

US: Ask Israel to Cooperate with Goldstone Inquiry Press release May 17, 2009 President Barack Obama should endorse the comprehensive UN investigation, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, into violations of international law during the recent Gaza conflict, and should urge Israel, when he meets today with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, to cooperate with the investigation.

Gaza: Pursuit of the Laws of War Commentary May 8, 2009 The Israeli government and its supporters have lashed out at the report of the UN board of inquiry into Israeli attacks on UN installations during Israel's latest offensive in Gaza.

UN: Support Goldstone Investigation into Gaza War Violations Press release May 6, 2009 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should call on Israel and the Hamas authorities to cooperate with the investigation led by Justice Richard Goldstone into serious laws of war violations by both sides during recent fighting in Gaza.

Israel/Gaza: Israeli Military Investigation Not Credible Press release Apr 23, 2009 The Israeli military's findings about the conduct of its forces in Gaza, announced on April 22, lack credibility and confirm the need for an impartial international inquiry into alleged violations by both Israel and Hamas.

The Killing Goes on in Gaza Commentary Apr 23, 2009 The young man asked us not to identify him. He had "made a mistake", he said, when someone apparently overheard him criticising a Hamas leader in a street conversation with friends.

Gaza: Hamas Should End Killings, Torture Press release Apr 20, 2009 Hamas should end its attacks on political opponents and suspected collaborators in Gaza, which have killed at least 32 Palestinians and maimed several dozen more during and since the recent Israeli military offensive.

Israel/Gaza: Cooperate With Goldstone Investigation Press release Apr 14, 2009 Israel and the Hamas authorities in Gaza should cooperate fully with the United Nations fact-finding mission, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, to investigate allegations of serious violations of the laws of war in Gaza and southern Israel.

Middle East and North Africa: US Cuts Cluster Bomb Supply Press release Mar 18, 2009 A new US law permanently banning nearly all cluster bomb exports by the United States will end a long period of transfers of the weapon to Israel and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

End the Double Standard in the Middle East Commentary Feb 10, 2009 A failure by the EU to seek accountability for perpetrators of war crimes in the Middle East risks undermining international criminal law. This is equally valid for Israel and Hamas.

Israel/Gaza: International Investigation Essential Press release Jan 27, 2009 An impartial international investigation into allegations of serious violations of the laws of war by Israel and Hamas during the recent fighting in Gaza is essential to establish key facts and to recommend mechanisms for holding violators accountable and providing compensation to victims.

"The Incendiary IDF" by Kenneth Roth Press release Jan 22, 2009 Throughout the recent war in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insisted that it took extraordinary care to spare civilians.

Gaza Crisis: Regimes React with Routine Repression Press release Jan 21, 2009 Middle Eastern governments have banned demonstrations against Israeli actions in Gaza, and their security forces have beaten and arrested demonstrators as they tried to voice their opposition.

Israel: Stop Shelling Crowded Gaza City Press release Jan 16, 2009 Israel's use of heavy artillery in residential areas of Gaza City violates the prohibition under the laws of war against indiscriminate attacks and should be stopped immediately

UN Human Rights Council Approves Gaza Inquiry Press release Jan 13, 2009 The United Nations Human Rights Council’s vote to investigate violations in the Gaza crisis by Israel alone instead of by both sides weakens the credibility of the investigation, Human Rights Watch said today.

Israel: End Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis at Once Press release Jan 13, 2009 Israel should immediately allow humanitarian groups broad access to Gaza and the evacuation of the wounded to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.

Q & A on Israel’s Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza Q & A Jan 10, 2009 Since the beginning of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza on January 3, 2009, there have been numerous media reports about the possible use by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of white phosphorus (WP), a chemical substance used in military ordnance that has several tactical uses.

Israel: Investigate Former Judge’s Killing in Gaza Press release Jan 9, 2009 Human Rights Watch today called on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths by an Israeli airstrike of Akram al-Ghoul, 48, and Mahmoud Salah Ahman al-Ghoul, 17, the father and cousin of Human Rights Watch’s research consultant in Gaza

Israel and Egypt: Allow Humanitarian Access to Gaza Press release Jan 8, 2009 Israel and Egypt should open their borders to permit humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and to allow civilians to seek safety from the conflict on the occasion of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, addressing the United Nations Security Council.